So, you’re looking for the score. You want to know exactly how the Cats did in their most recent outing. Honestly, tracking Kentucky basketball this season has been a total roller coaster, especially with the way Mark Pope has these guys playing.
The most recent score of Kentucky basketball was a nail-biting 75-74 victory over LSU on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
It wasn't pretty. Not at all. But in the SEC, a road win is a road win, and Mark Pope will take that "W" back to Lexington every single day of the week. This win pushed the Wildcats to an 11-6 overall record and leveled their conference play at 2-2.
The LSU Escape and Why it Mattered
The game in Baton Rouge was basically a heart attack for anyone wearing blue and white. Kentucky entered that matchup coming off a massive 92-68 blowout win against Mississippi State, where Otega Oweh went absolutely nuclear for 22 points. Most fans expected that momentum to carry over.
Instead, they got a dogfight.
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Kentucky led for much of the game, but LSU just wouldn't quit. Denzel Aberdeen and Malachi Moreno have really stepped up as the "glue guys" for this roster. Moreno, the 7-foot freshman from Georgetown, is starting to look like the real deal in the paint. He isn't just a shot-blocker; his passing out of the post is surprisingly polished for a kid his age.
Breaking Down the Current Kentucky Basketball Season
If you’ve been following the score of Kentucky basketball games lately, you've noticed a weird pattern. They seem to alternate between looking like Final Four contenders and looking totally lost.
Look at the stretch they just had:
- Jan 14: Beat LSU 75-74 (Road win, gritty)
- Jan 10: Smoked Mississippi State 92-68 (Home win, dominant)
- Jan 7: Lost to Missouri 68-73 (Home loss, frustrating)
- Jan 3: Lost to Alabama 74-89 (Road loss, ugly)
That Missouri loss at Rupp Arena? That one stung. It’s the kind of game that keeps a team on the bubble or messes with their seeding in March. Kentucky shot the ball poorly, and Missouri basically dared them to hit from deep. They couldn't.
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Who is Carrying the Load?
Otega Oweh is the engine. Period. When he’s aggressive and getting to the rim, the whole floor opens up. He’s averaging nearly 16 points a game right now. But the injury to Jaland Lowe—who is out for the season—has forced guys like Denzel Aberdeen into a much larger role than anyone anticipated back in November.
It’s also worth mentioning the freshmen. Jasper Johnson and Trent Noah (the local Kentucky kids) are getting valuable minutes. Noah’s shooting stroke is pure, even if he’s still adjusting to the speed of SEC defenders.
What’s Coming Up Next?
The schedule doesn't get any easier. If you're checking the score of Kentucky basketball this weekend, you’re going to see a massive rivalry game.
- Saturday, Jan 17: Kentucky at Tennessee (12:00 PM EST)
- Wednesday, Jan 21: Texas at Kentucky (7:00 PM EST)
- Saturday, Jan 24: Ole Miss at Kentucky (12:00 PM EST)
The Tennessee game in Knoxville is the big one. The Vols are always physical, and Thompson-Boling Arena is a house of horrors for visiting teams. If Kentucky can steal a win there, the conversation around this team changes from "struggling to stay above .500 in the SEC" to "actually dangerous."
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The Reality of the Mark Pope Era
A lot of people are still comparing every single score to the Calipari era. That’s a mistake. Pope runs a completely different system. It’s more about spacing, high-volume threes, and quick decisions. When it works—like it did against Mississippi State—it’s beautiful. When the shots don't fall, like against Gonzaga back in December (that 59-94 loss was a low point), it looks disorganized.
The defense is still a work in progress. They’re giving up about 70 points a game, which isn't terrible, but they struggle with elite guards who can blow past the first line of defense.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to stay on top of the score of Kentucky basketball without getting overwhelmed by the noise, here is what you actually need to watch:
- Watch the Turnovers: In their wins, Kentucky is usually under 11 turnovers. In their losses? That number jumps to 15 or 16.
- The 3-Point Percentage: This team lives and dies by the arc. If they hit 35% or better, they usually win. If they’re under 30%, it’s a coin flip at best.
- Bench Production: With Lowe out, the bench is thin. Keep an eye on how many minutes the starters are playing. If Oweh and Moreno are playing 38 minutes a night in January, they might be gassed by March.
Keep your eyes on the Tennessee game this Saturday. It’s going to tell us everything we need to know about where this team is headed.